Basket handle



March 15, 1927. 1,620,941

F. J. BRAINARD BASKET HANDLE Filed June 50, 1926 Attorney Patented Mar. '15, 19 27.

FOREST J. BRAr'NAnn, or moo'roiv. New YoRK,

' rAs -nr nannrnf 'Ap'plication filed June so, 1926.@Seria1N o. 119, 73

This invention relates to an. improved handle for baskets such as are used for containing fruit, although-it is not tobe restricted permitting itto be readily removed when to this particular use, since it is adaptable for use in association with other forms of containers of an analogous nature. T I

Briefly, the invention has more particular reference to'a resilient bail which is especiallyfcons'tructed for cooperation w1th novel attaching devices and a removable; basket cover for holding the cover in place but desired.

The principal feature of construction, as

indicated, is the wirebail which is of a resilient nature and which is constructedv at its ends to-cooperate with notches formed" in the'removable cover, the construction being such as to permit the cover to be readily snapped into place, or to permit the handle to be manipulated 'ina manner to permit- Other features and advantages will become apparent from the following description and drawings. I V f In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like partsthroughout the same Figure l is a perspective view of a fragmentary portion of a fruit basket showing the cover and the improved handle,the cover being held firmlyin closed position by the handle.

Fig. 2 is a perspective View showing the approximate mannerin which one end portion ofthe handle is manipulated for releasing the cover.

Fig. 3 is a view showing the cover partly open and in a position to to closed position.

Fig. 4: is also a perspective View of one be snapped down side portion of the basket and one end portion of the handle showingjthe manner in which one end of the handle is detached or I placed in position, as the case may be.

Referring to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the reference character 1 designates one side wall of the basket, and the reference character2 designates the usual 7 laminated rim at the top. The cover is represented generally by the reference character 3, and this is preferably made up of Spaced longitudinally disposed slats 4 connected to gether by transverse cleats 5. As before stated, the opposite ,end portions of the central cleat is notched'as at 6, the notches being of substantially V-shap. The handle 7 is in the form of a wire bail and it has downwardly directed endportions 8 which, it

' willbe noticed,-are directed, toward each other." The free .endqportions of the parts 8: are directed outwardly at right anglesas at-9 and-terminate inupturned hooks -10.

. In this connection, I' would direct attention to the fact that in *eachinstance, a metal plate 11 is. fastened between the-plies of the laminatedrim 2 in any appropriate manner,

and the upper portions of these plates are formed with horizontalslots for passage of the portions 9 and-1O of the bail, the slotted portions of the plates projecting a suitable distanceflabove the cleat 5. The length of.

the bends 9 is governed by the size of the notches.

"Moreover, the hooks 10. are of a sizeto I stay properly in place in the slots. in the plates." WVhile'no claim is made to the plates 11 in this application, I would direct attention to Fig. 4: wherein it will be seen that each plate is provided with an inwardly directed tongue, 12 (partly dotted) which rests .upon the top of the rim and serves to limit .theadownward movement, of the plate when it is put-imposition. ,This facilitates-placement of. the plate and also aids in maintenance of the plate in position after it is fastened. v

The gist of-the invention, ,as before indi cated, is in the making of thehandle of resilient wire in order to permit the downturned portions 8 to besprung in a manner to permit ready removal and application of the cover. In the drawings I have demonstrated the manner in which the cover may be applied and removed For instance, in

. Fig. 1 we see the handle in its normal upright or carrying position. As shown here, the portions 9 of the downturned ends 8 rest in the V-shaped notches 6 in the cleats 5 in such-a way as to exert a downwardpressure upon the cover'to hold the central portion of the latter firmly in place. In fact, it shows that a construction of this kind holds the cover in place so securely that it is almost impossible to remove it without breaking either the cover or thehandle or some other cooperating part.

' Assuming that it is desired to remove the cover, this is done in the manner illustrated in Fig. 2." Referring to this figure, it will be seen that the optmwt places one hand upon the cover and places the other hand in the manner shown, the fin ersbeing disposed against the rim '2, and the thunib be ing placed against the resilient down-turned end portion 8 of the bail. Now, the portion of the bail thus engaged is pushed outwardly with one hand and the cover is lifted upwardly with the other hand in a manner to 1 clear the retaining 'portion'of the bail. This may be easily doneandofvcourse when one sideof'the coveris released the entire cover can be canted "in such a way as to permit it to be slid longitudinally ofi oi. the top of a basket, In placing the cover in position,t 'the edge of the cover is rested against one nd' porti'on of the bail as'represented in lFig; 3, and it is simply forced downwardly.

in'so doing, the bail is sprung outwardly in an 'obvious manner and the'cofver snaps/beneath the S lIOL'I ldGl fO IIIIGCl by the bend 9. The resilient nature of the basket itself of course facilitates this outward movement of th'efend portion of the bailt'. l/Vhen once snapped beneath the shoulder, it assumes the a position shown in Fig. 1, and-is again held bail-for anyr'eason o'rtoput'it in place-this is done represented in 'Flg. 4. As shown.

firfnly in place.

Assuming that it is desired to'remove the "here, the; operator places the th uinb of one hand againstrthe inner wall of the rim of "th s bas'ket'aiid'tlie fin ers against the outer side [of the wall and jdoublecurve. Now then, by manipulating the end'ofth'e bail properly with-the other handth'e saine can be ul'ledoutbfthe slot iiexesthis wall into a l roin the foregoing drawings it will be seen that I have evolved and produced a novel bail possessing the structtiial 'featu res"alreadyemphasized. It is believedthat by considering the description in connection with the drawlngs, a clear com- I'claim; as new is:

In a basket structure an open topbasket ;enibotlying;flexible side wallsand having a laminated-run at its top, a removable cover for said open top resting fupon theupper edge "of said riin, saidqcover includinga transverse cleat having V-shaped notches'ht its opposite ends, bail-retaining plates se-' cured between the pliesot sai'd rim Epro jecting above said ri1n,jtl 1e prpj'ecting gportionsfof the-plates being provided with horizontally disposed'elongated slots disposed in registry with the aforesaid notches, and; a

Having thus: described my invention, What resilient; wire carrying bail, the downwardly;

directed end portions of which are bent inwardlyjtowards each other, the freeends thereof being bent outwardly at substantial 1riglit;angles,-said right angularly bent porttion being disposed-in said notchesand ex:

tending through and beyond saidslots terminating. in upturned hooks. A

In testimony whereof I a'iitix my signature.

-. :1, Banana.

and 

